I. Policy

The College will work in “good faith” to meet or exceed state-established goals for minority business participation in procurement and construction processes. The good faith effort shall include compliance with North Carolina General Statues 143-48 and 143-128.2, .3, and .4 in purchasing, contracting, and building projects, respectively, so far as practicable. This includes the use of historically underutilized business certified vendors in the procurement of goods and services, and the active pursuit, participation, and utilization of minority contractors and sub-contractors in College construction projects.

For the purposes of this policy, the term “minority business” means a historically underutilized business (HUB) that is at least fifty-one percent owned by one or more persons, or in the case of a corporation, fifty-one percent of the stock is owned by one or more persons who are members of at least one of the groups identified in this policy and the North Caroline General Statutes.

II. Purpose

The objective of the Historically Underutilized Business policy is to encourage and promote opportunities for all vendors and contractors who participate in the College's procurement and construction processes, in accordance with the most current Executive Order issued by the Governor of North Carolina. The following minority businesses, as set forth in North Carolina General Statues 143-128.4, are classified as historically underutilized business vendors and are the focus of this policy:

1. Black: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
2. Hispanic: A person of Spanish or Portuguese culture having origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean islands, regardless of race.
3. Asian American: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, Asia, Indian continent, or Pacific islands.
4. American Indian: A person having origins in any of the original Indian peoples of North America.
5. Female
6. Disabled: A person with a disability as defined in General Statute 168-1 or General Statute 168A-3.
7. Disadvantaged: A person who is socially and economically disadvantaged as defined in 15 United States Code § 637

The current state goals, established by Executive Order and defined in statute, are to procure at least ten percent of goods and services from historically underutilized business vendors, and to achieve at least ten percent minority participation in the total value of construction contracts awarded.

Related Procedures

Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Utilization Procedures

Changes

Changes approved by the Board of Trustees on October 27; 2001; June 25, 2002; May 6, 2020